Influence of dietary bile acids on formation of bile acids in rat

Various taurine-conjugated bile acids were fed to rats at the 1%-level in the diet for 3 or 7 days and the effect on several hydroxylations involved in the biosynthesis and metabolism of bile acids was studied. The hydroxylations studied were all catalyzed by the microsomal fraction of liver homogenate fortified with NADPH. The 7α-hydroxylation of cholesterol was inhibited by feeding taurocholic acid, taurocheno-deoxycholic acid and taurodeoxycholic acid for 3 as well as 7 days. No marked inhibition was obtained with taurohyodeoxycholic acid or taurolithocholic acid. The 12α-hydroxylation of 7α-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one was inhibited after 3 as well as 7 days by all bile acids except taurohyodeoxycholic acid. With this acid a marked stimulation of 12α-hydroxylation was observed. The effects of the different bile acids on the 7α-hydroxylation of taurodeoxycholic acid were not very marked. The 6β-hydroxylation of lithocholie acid and taurochenodeoxycholic acid was stimulated by taurocholic acid and taurodeoxycholic acid. The reaction was inhibited by taurochenodeoxycholic acid, at least after 7 days. Taurohyodeoxycholic acid inhibited the 6β-hydroxylation slightly and taurolithocholic acid had no effect. The results were discussed in the light of present knowledge concerning mechanisms of regulation of formation and metabolism of bile acids and it was suggested that the mechanisms may be more complex than previously thought.     

Temperature and Sweet Taste Integration in Drosophila

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Identification and in silico prediction of metabolites of tebufenozide derivatives by major human cytochrome P450 isoforms

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes constitute a superfamily of heme-containing monooxygenases. CYPs are involved in the metabolism of many chemicals such as drugs and agrochemicals. Therefore, examining the metabolic reactions by each CYP isoform is important to elucidate their substrate recognition mechanisms. The clarification of these mechanisms may be useful not only for the development of new drugs and agrochemicals, but also for risk assessment of chemicals. In our previous study, we identified the metabolites of tebufenozide, an insect growth regulator, formed by two human CYP isoforms: CYP3A4 and CYP2C19. The accessibility of each site of tebufenozide to the reaction center of CYP enzymes and the susceptibility of each hydrogen atom for metabolism by CYP enzymes were evaluated by a docking simulation and hydrogen atom abstraction energy estimation at the density functional theory level, respectively. In this study, the same in silico prediction method was applied to the metabolites of tebufenozide derivatives by major human CYPs (CYP1A2, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, and 3A4). In addition, the production rate of the metabolites by CYP3A4 was quantitively analyzed by frequency based on docking simulation and hydrogen atom abstraction energy using the classical QSAR approach. Then, the obtained QSAR model was applied to predict the sites of metabolism and the metabolite production order by each CYP isoform.     

Cyclin E uses Cdc6 as a chromatin-associated receptor required for DNA replication

Using an in vitro chromatin assembly assay in Xenopus egg extract, we show that cyclin E binds specifically and saturably to chromatin in three phases. In the first phase, the origin recognition complex and Cdc6 prereplication proteins, but not the minichromosome maintenance complex, are necessary and biochemically sufficient for ATP-dependent binding of cyclin E--Cdk2 to DNA. We find that cyclin E binds the NH(2)-terminal region of Cdc6 containing Cy--Arg-X-Leu (RXL) motifs. Cyclin E proteins with mutated substrate selection (Met-Arg-Ala-Ile-Leu; MRAIL) motifs fail to bind Cdc6, fail to compete with endogenous cyclin E--Cdk2 for chromatin binding, and fail to rescue replication in cyclin E--depleted extracts. Cdc6 proteins with mutations in the three consensus RXL motifs are quantitatively deficient for cyclin E binding and for rescuing replication in Cdc6-depleted extracts. Thus, the cyclin E--Cdc6 interaction that localizes the Cdk2 complex to chromatin is important for DNA replication. During the second phase, cyclin E--Cdk2 accumulates on chromatin, dependent on polymerase activity. In the third phase, cyclin E is phosphorylated, and the cyclin E--Cdk2 complex is displaced from chromatin in mitosis. In vitro, mitogen-activated protein kinase and especially cyclin B--Cdc2, but not the polo-like kinase 1, remove cyclin E--Cdk2 from chromatin. Rebinding of hyperphosphorylated cyclin E--Cdk2 to interphase chromatin requires dephosphorylation, and the Cdk kinase-directed Cdc14 phosphatase is sufficient for this dephosphorylation in vitro. These three phases of cyclin E association with chromatin may facilitate the diverse activities of cyclin E--Cdk2 in initiating replication, blocking rereplication, and allowing resetting of origins after mitosis.     

Two distinct Vps34 phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase complexes function in autophagy and carboxypeptidase Y sorting in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Vps30p/Apg6p is required for both autophagy and sorting of carboxypeptidase Y (CPY). Although Vps30p is known to interact with Apg14p, its precise role remains unclear. We found that two proteins copurify with Vps30p. They were identified by mass spectrometry to be Vps38p and Vps34p, a phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) 3-kinase. Vps34p, Vps38p, Apg14p, and Vps15p, an activator of Vps34p, were coimmunoprecipitated with Vps30p. These results indicate that Vps30p functions as a subunit of a Vps34 PtdIns 3-kinase complex(es). Phenotypic analyses indicated that Apg14p and Vps38p are each required for autophagy and CPY sorting, respectively, whereas Vps30p, Vps34p, and Vps15p are required for both processes. Coimmunoprecipitation using anti-Apg14p and anti-Vps38p antibodies and pull-down experiments showed that two distinct Vps34 PtdIns 3-kinase complexes exist: one, containing Vps15p, Vps30p, and Apg14p, functions in autophagy and the other containing Vps15p, Vps30p, and Vps38p functions in CPY sorting. The vps34 and vps15 mutants displayed additional phenotypes such as defects in transport of proteinase A and proteinase B, implying the existence of another PtdIns 3-kinase complex(es). We propose that multiple Vps34p-Vps15p complexes associated with specific regulatory proteins might fulfill their membrane trafficking events at different sites.     

Initiation and Inhibition of Free Radical Processes in H2O2–Metmyoglobin (Methemoglobin)–2,2"-Azino-bis-(3-Ethylbenzthiazoline-6-Sulfonic Acid) Systems

Rates of free radical initiation were determined at 20°C in 10 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) in the systems metmyoglobin (methemoglobin)–H₂O₂ using 2,2"-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) as the diammonium salt (ABTS). The catalytic activity of MetMb was 2-3-fold higher than that of MetHb. The process can be described by the Michaelis–Menten equation, from which effective values of K _m and V _max were calculated. Comparative kinetic studies on the inhibition of ABTS oxidation were carried out using Trolox, propylgallate (PG), polydisulfide of gallic acid (poly(DSG)), polydisulfide of (2-amino-4-nitrophenol) (poly(ADSNP)), and its conjugate with human serum albumin (HSA–poly(ADSNP)). The inhibitors were characterized by inhibition constants K _i and stoichiometric inhibition coefficients f (the number of radicals terminated by a single molecule of inhibitor). The minimum K _i and the maximum f values were obtained for poly(DSG), and in the system of MetHb–H₂O₂–ABTS they were 0.08 M and 27.5, respectively. According to their antiradical activities, the inhibitors can be arranged as follows: poly(DSG) > poly(ADSNP) > PG > Trolox. PG, poly(DSG), poly(ADSNP), and its conjugate with HSA are suggested as calibrators, i.e., inhibition standards for evaluation of antioxidant status of biological fluids in possible test systems based on the free radical-generating pair MetMb–H₂O₂ with ABTS as the acceptor of the active radicals.     

Highly efficient transfection system for functional gene analysis in adult amphibian lens regeneration

The analysis of newt lens regeneration has been an important subject in developmental biology. Recently, it has been reported that the genes involved in the normal eye development are also expressed in the regenerative process of lens regeneration in the adult newt. However, functional analysis of these genes has not been possible, because there is no system to introduce genes efficiently into the cells involved in the regeneration. In the present study, lipofection was used as the method for gene transfer in cultured pigmented iris cells that can transdifferentiate into lens cells in newt lens regeneration. Positive expression of a reporter gene was obtained in more than 70% of cells. In addition, the aggregate derived from gene-transfected cells maintained its expression at a high level for a long time within the host tissue. To verify the effectiveness of this model system with a reporter gene in lens regeneration, Pax6, which is suggested to be involved in normal eye development and lens regeneration, was transfected. Ectopic expression of lens-specific crystallins was obtained in cells that show no such activity in normal lens regeneration. These results made it possible for the first time to analyze the molecular mechanism of lens regeneration in the adult newt.     

An Integrated View of the Kinetics of Glucose and Phosphate Transport, and of Glucose 6-Phosphate Transport and Hydrolysis in Intact Rat Liver Microsomes

The dynamics of the glucose 6-phosphatase system were investigated in intact rat liver microsomes using a fast-sampling, rapid-filtration apparatus. Glucose and phosphate transport followed single exponential kinetics, appeared to be homogeneous, was unaffected by unlabeled substrate concentrations up to 100 mm, proved insensitive to various potential inhibitors, and demonstrated similarly low energies of activation. The extent of tracer accumulation from glucose 6-phosphate depended on which of the glucose or phosphate moieties was the labeled species in the parent molecule. The rates of tracer equilibration reflected those of glucose or phosphate transport but similar initial rates of uptake were observed for the glucose and phosphate products of hydrolysis. However, the latter accounted for only 12–13% of the steady-state rate of total glucose production. It is concluded that tracer uptake cannot represent substrate transport, that labeled glucose 6-phosphate at best represents a tiny fraction of the intramicrosomal glucose or phosphate pools, and that glucose 6-phosphate transport is not an obligatory prerequisite to its hydrolysis. The latter conclusion invalidates a major postulate of the substrate transport-catalytic unit concept but proves compatible with a conformational model whereby glucose 6-phosphate transport and hydrolysis are tightly coupled processes while glucose and phosphate share, along with water and a variety of other organic and inorganic solutes, a common porelike structure for their transport through the microsomal membrane. Received: 26 May 2000/Revised: 16 October 2000     

Central beta-amyloid peptide-induced peripheral interleukin-6 responses in mice

beta-Amyloid peptides (Abetas) share with lipopolysaccharide, a potent pro-inflammatory agent, the property of stimulating glial cells or macrophages to induce various inflammatory mediators. We recently reported that central administration of lipopolysaccharide induces peripheral interleukin-6 responses via both the central and peripheral norepinephrine system. In this study, the effect of intracerebroventricular injection of various synthetic Abetas on plasma interleukin-6 levels was examined in mice. Abeta(1-42) dose-dependently increased plasma interleukin-6 levels: 'aged' Abeta(1-42) was more effective than fresh, whereas Abeta(42-1) had no effect. 'Aged' Abeta(1-42) (205 pmol/mouse i.c.v.)-induced plasma interleukin-6 peaked at 2 h post injection, which is earlier than the peak time of the Abeta(1-42)-induced brain interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1beta levels, which was 4, 4 and 24 h, respectively. Among various peripheral organs, Abeta(1-42) (205 pmol/mouse i.c.v.) significantly increased interleukin-6 mRNA expression in lymph nodes and liver. Abeta(1-42) (205 pmol/mouse i.c.v.) significantly increased norepinephrine turnover in both hypothalamus and spleen. Either central or peripheral norepinephrine depletion effectively inhibited the Abeta(1-42)-induced peripheral interleukin-6 response. Pretreatment with prazosin (alpha(1)-adrenergic antagonist), yohimbine (alpha(2)-adrenergic antagonist), and ICI-118,551 (beta(2)-adrenergic antagonist), but not with betaxolol (beta(1)-adrenergic antagonist), inhibited Abeta(1-42)-induced plasma interleukin-6 levels. These results demonstrate that centrally administered Abeta(1-42) effectively induces the systemic interleukin-6 response which is mediated, in part, by central Abeta(1-42)-induced activation of the central and the peripheral norepinephrine systems.     

猪骨骼肌磷酸葡萄糖异构酶的提纯及性质研究

本文报道猪骨骼肌磷酸葡萄糖异构酶（ＧＰＩ．ＥＣ ５．３．１．９）的提纯及其性质。设计了四步提纯法（稀盐溶液抽提、有机溶媒沉淀、透析、葡聚糖Ｇ－１００柱层析），对猪的五种不同解剖部位的骨骼风进行了ＧＰＩ的提纯。结果均得到聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳（ＰＡＧＥ）图谱为一条带的产品。提纯效果以猪股二头肌为例：提纯１０．６８倍、活力回收３２．３７％，比活力１．６×１０５单位。对提纯酶性质的研究表明；猪肌提纯的ＧＰＩ由三个亚基组成。分子量约为１２０Ｋｄ，等电点为 ６． ６，最适ｐＨ８．５，最适温度 ３５℃，米氏常数：６．０２ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ，活化能为３２３７８．４焦耳／Ｋ，ｍｏｌ。免疫电泳实验证实猪肌提纯酶具抗原性。其免疫血清与自牛、兔、鸡、鱼的骨骼肌用同法提纯的ＧＰＩ有交叉免疫反应。免疫血清且对原酶液有抑制作用。猪肌ＧＰＩ与其它数种动物肌肉之ＧＰＩ的ＰＡＧＥ行为、混合电泳行为，等电聚焦行为、氨基酸组成等各方面基本相同，可以认为这是猪肌ＧＰＩ与其它数种动物肌肉的ＧＰＩ为同源蛋白质的佐证。